Find out how to know it’s time to seek help when caring for an elderly relative who is struggling with illness.

When you have a sick elderly relative, you may feel like you should try to do it all. After all, it’s your loved one, and it’s easy to let guilt set in if you aren’t there to provide all of the care. However, with time, trying to manage your work life, home life, and provide adequate care for your loved one may prove to be too much. Your life suffers and your loved one may not be getting the level of care he or she needs.

First things first, it’s important to set aside any feelings of guilt. You can provide love and support for your family member without providing for all of his or her health care needs. You are only human, and expert caregiving services are available so you can ensure your elderly relative has the necessary care without sacrificing your own quality of life.

How can you know it’s time to look for outside assistance? Keep reading for the signs it’s time to reach out to an experienced in-home care team.

Managing Medications Is a Struggle

If your elderly relative forgets to take medications or takes the incorrect combination of meds at the wrong times, the results can be dangerous and even deadly. There may come a point when he or she simply is unable to keep track of what medications to take. Furthermore, if you are away at work or untrained in medication scheduling, it’s unreasonable to expect you can deal with it on your own.

The fact is knowing which meds to take and when to take them can be confusing for a person of any age, but an aging mind that struggles with forgetfulness or disorientation only adds to the struggle. Because of the high risk involved in medication administration, it’s important to hire an in-home caregiver to get it right.

By hiring a qualified in-home nurse to help with medications on a daily basis or even for a few days a week, you will gain tremendous peace of mind. This is a service that can enable your elderly family member to rest and heal in the comfort of home while minimizing the risks involved in medication mismanagement.

Lack of Proper Nutrition

If you or a physician notices your loved one is losing weight rapidly, or you stop by the home to find the refrigerator and pantry are mostly empty, it’s time to consider in-home care intervention. Without the proper nutrition, an elderly person will lack the energy to care for themselves and to heal from their illness.

Additionally, lack of nutrition can result in a deterioration of your loved one’s condition, which is the opposite of what you are trying to achieve. Even a week without proper nutrition can cause your loved one’s health and mobility to decline rapidly. A qualified in-home caregiver can be there to ensure the elderly family member is eating nutritious meals on a regular basis, which will promote healing and increased strength and energy levels.

Falls Are a Risk

An increase in falls and injuries, such as cuts, bruises, and burns, are red flags that it’s time to obtain a higher level of professional care for your elderly relative. If you or the physician observe unexplainable bruising or marks, it’s safe to assume your loved one may be experiencing falls or accidents when he or she is home alone.

In some cases, the senior may be embarrassed by the accidents and may try to cover them up or not mention them. However, for an elderly adult, a fall can be devastating, which is why it’s important to regularly assess him or her for injuries and do what is necessary to make the environment as safe as possible. Hiring in-home care is the best way to ensure your loved one’s safety and progress during this critical time of illness recovery

If you think it’s time to look into qualified in-home nursing assistance for your sick, elderly relative, turn to Celestial Care. We are here to answer your questions and provide the right professional caregiving solutions to help your loved one heal and recover in the comfort of home. Connect with us online now for a consultation.